Keep it 100

Sony reimagines its RX100 compact camera with the focus on vloggers and other pathological attention-seekers

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R17 000 / sony.com/za

Almost DSLR-grade image quality and control, a wide-open f/1.8 lens, fantastic eye-tracking and continuous autofocus in a compact body? The ZV-1 isn’t cheap, but still undercuts Sony’s own RX100 VII despite packing the same sensor. It also adds a fully articulating screen, more versatile video capabilities and improved audio. There are sacrifices, though: no viewfinder and no flash.

The real star is that 3in screen, which flips out and twiddles – a great feature for vloggers. Controls consist of a rotating dial and menu buttons, fiddly for anyone moving from a DSLR but fine for video.

The 1in sensor on Sony’s premium compacts has always been a top performer and it stacks up well here. It’s quick to focus, with face-detection as well as a range of traditional modes from continuous through to single-point AF.

Soft Skin beauty mode irons things out when you’re not at your finest, while the ProductShowcase feature shifts focus-priority to anything being held by a vlogger while in frame, then right back to their face, turning the ZV-1 into both camera and camera operator.

The included wind muff does a decent job of tackling outdoor noise, and directional recording is perfect for chatting away even in less than peaceful environments.

Tech specs